The Chicago Bulls (9-14) and Charlotte Hornets (7-17) will face off in the NBA tonight. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m. EST from the Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina. The game will broadcast live on FDSSE.
The Bulls are 3.5-point favorites over the Hornets on the spread (Bulls -3.5), with the over/under set at 230.5 total points. Chicago is a -155 favorite to win outright on the moneyline, while Charlotte is +130 to pull off the upset.
Let's get into my Bulls vs. Hornets predictions and NBA picks for Friday, December 12.
My Bulls vs Hornets Prediction
- Bulls vs Hornets pick: Brandon Miller Over 21.5 Points (-125)
My Hornets vs Bulls best bet is on Brandon Miller over 21.5 points, with the best price currently available at BetMGM. However, make sure to find the best odds by checking our live NBA odds page.
Bulls vs Hornets Odds
| Bulls Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
-3.5 -110 | 230.5 -110o / -110u | -155 |
| Hornets Odds | ||
|---|---|---|
| Spread | Total | Moneyline |
+3.5 -110 | 230.5 -110o / -110u | +130 |
Bulls vs Hornets NBA Preview
My League Pass rotation will absolutely have this game in the multi-view.
The sliding Bulls and the LaMelo Ball-less Hornets? Count me in.
The Bulls started the season 5-0. Many of us expected that, as good as they looked, they were full of it.
Well, they're even more full of it than I originally thought.
They have seven straight losses heading into this game, including five games in which they were favored: At New Orleans, at Charlotte, at Indiana, at home against Brooklyn and again at home vs. Indiana.
Nobody in the NBA is playing worse than the Bulls right now.
Charlotte is up and down — more down than up — but you can at least blame health. They're actually 3-3 in their last six while heading into this, which includes home and road wins over the Raptors.
Both have loaded injury reports, so let's get right to them.
The Bulls will not have Ayo Dosunmu (thumb), Noa Essengue (season-ending shoulder injury), and Kevin Hurter (thigh).
The following players are all listed as probable for Chicago: Coby White (calf), Zach Collins (wrist), Jalen Smith (hamstring), Isaac Okoro (back), and Tre Jones (ankle).
For Charlotte, LaMelo (ankle), Grant Williams (ACL), Tre Mann (knee), Collin Sexton (quad), and Pat Connaughton (calf) are out.
Moussa Diabate (knee) is questionable after sitting out the last game.
Bulls vs Hornets Prediction, Betting Analysis
I'm backing Brandon Miller over 21.5 points in this game.
I'm worried his shoulder might be a hindrance all season, and that's clearly been the case since he injured it in the second game, but he still went for 21+ points without LaMelo in 6-of-7 opportunities.
Speaking of opportunities, he's getting plenty. Miller is shooting 28 times per 100 possessions — two more than last season and a career-high mark.
He's also taking about 15 threes per 100 and north of seven free throws.
The issue isn't volume: He's shooting 38/29/83 this season. But again, the problem seems to be his lingering shoulder injury.
To me, this is a buy-low, volume play against a bottom-10 defense that has been among the very worst during its current losing streak.
BetRivers is the last place to have Miller at 20.5, and there are some 22.5s popping up, so grab it now. I'd also bet it at 21.5.
Pick: Brandon Miller Over 21.5 Points (-125, BetMGM)
Hornets vs Bulls Betting Trends
